Miss Universe Pageant Allowing Transgender Women

Officials say Miss Universe will allow transgender women to participate in the 2013 pageant, a week after they ruled a transgender woman would be able to vie for the crown this year.

The decision was announced Tuesday. Pageant officials in New York say they've been working with GLAAD to finalize the official rule policy change. Trials for next year's pageant begin this summer.

The move comes about a week after the organization said that 23-year-old Jenna Talackova could compete. The Vancouver resident underwent a sex change four years ago after being born a male. Her sex change initially led organizers in Canada to disqualify her from the 61st Miss Universe Canada pageant in May, citing a rule that she must be "naturally born" a woman.